Pet Legal Q&A

Elinor D. Molbegott, is an attorney who maintains a law practice devoted to animal law. Elinor donates her time to answer questions from North Shore Animal League America supporters who would like to learn more about animal law.

Ex girlfriend has my cat

Hello, a few months ago, my girlfriend and I broke up. We shared an apartment together, and shortly after moving in, I rescued a baby kitten from the side of the road, underneath a car. I took care of the cat, nurturing it back to health because he was very small, starved, and filled with multiple infections. My girlfriend and I ended up breaking up, and I couldn't take the cat with me the night we split because my mom is allergic, and I didn't have anywhere else to go. Now I am back on my own feet in my own place, and I miss my cat and want to have him in my life again.

By |2025-09-30T14:50:55-04:00August 22nd, 2023|

Dog rehoming

We rehomed my daughter's dog yesterday, and now I want her back. My daughter works full time and is taking flying lessons, so she felt she did not have time to care for her dog. The couple that took her both work outside the home and will leave her home alone and put her in doggie day care. They also do not have good access to their yard from their house. We made a mistake and want her back. Can we ask for her back? We did not charge a fee and just gave them the dog.

By |2023-09-22T16:49:50-04:00August 18th, 2023|

I bought a dog that was supposed to be purebred and isn’t

I bought a dog from a breeder, and he told me it was supposed to be 100% Belgian Malinois. The breeder ended up posting a DNA test from the father of the litter we got her from, and it said that he was 40.5% Dutch Shepherd, 31% German Shepherd, and 28.5% Belgian Malinois. So, we did a DNA test on our puppy, and she came back with 48.9% Belgian Malinois, 12.7% German Shepherd, and 38.4% Dutch Shepherd. We spent $2500 on her, and I want to keep her. I just want to ensure that he won't do it again.

By |2023-09-22T16:42:39-04:00August 16th, 2023|

My neighbor live trapped my cat and dumped them

How do I take legal action against my neighbor for live trapping my house cat of 7 years, along with a raccoon, and dumping them off in the middle of nowhere? The neighbor, whose yard the traps were set in, told me exactly what happened. The police aren't returning any phone calls, and I'm getting nowhere with animal control. What is the next step?

By |2023-09-22T16:37:55-04:00August 15th, 2023|

Animal control took my livestock guardian dog

My dog was guarding my chickens and ducks. She was alone on the property for two weeks while we were moving. I drove back every other day to refresh water and food. The ducks drank out of my dog's water dish and got dirt in it, and the chickens also scratched around and got dirt in their water. They insisted that my animals' water had not been changed in weeks when, in reality, I was there and changed the water the day before. They took my dog, ducks, and chickens on the day I was coming to move them to our new home (the day after the first visit).

By |2023-09-22T16:32:42-04:00August 14th, 2023|

Neglected dogs

If animals are being neglected and kept at the owner's parents' house, what can I do?

By |2023-09-22T16:29:04-04:00August 12th, 2023|

Dogs given to new home

The lady, whom I hardly know, called me and told me that her neighbor is neglecting her two Chihuahuas, and now she is in the hospital. The Chihuahuas need a good home because they are alone with no food and water. She asked me to take care of them and keep them because the owner is in the hospital, and her health issues are not improving. I have my own dogs, so I couldn't keep them, but I will find a good family for them. I did find a good home for them. However, after a few days, she started texting and calling me to return them back.

By |2023-09-22T16:20:47-04:00August 9th, 2023|

Groomer cut my Shih Tzu badly

What recourse do I have for a groomer severely cutting my Shih Tzu during a grooming appointment? I took him to the vet, where I paid $350.00 for treatment. Can I get my money back from the groomer?

By |2023-09-22T16:27:50-04:00August 5th, 2023|

Rehoming Dog.

I have gotten my dog her rabies shot, and that is all that has been done in the 2 months that I have had her. Unfortunately, I have decided to rehome her due to my child's medical condition. Can I just create a simple contract for the new owners I am giving her to, so we can both sign it? This way, in case, God forbid, something happens with the dog, it does not come back to me, especially since her rabies tag is under my name. What should I do?

By |2023-08-21T11:41:04-04:00July 26th, 2023|

Dog taken to shelter.

If my ex takes my dogs to a shelter after stating he will watch them can I sue him for taking them to a shelter without my permission?

By |2023-08-21T10:30:13-04:00July 26th, 2023|
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